Roddick vs Medvedev. Who is greater?

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Deleted member 748597

Guest
It's probably Roddick for now, but I wonder what the knowledgeable tennis observers on this forum think about this.

Roddick

1 Slam
0 YEC
5 Masters
1 YE #1
13 weeks at #1

Mad Lad

1 Slam
1 YEC
4 Masters
0 YE #1
Just got to #1, but could catch Roddick there.
 
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Deleted member 748597

Guest
Roddick is better and therefore morally greater at all times. Accept.
751757.jpg
 

Kralingen

Bionic Poster
Roddick for now, by a hair (In a pinch I always tiebreak with someone who could play on multiple surfaces)

Medvedev will surely surpass him statistically though.
 
Hmm Roddick beat Juan Carlos Ferrero for his only slam. Medvedev beat Djokovic the (at the time) joint slam leader who was playing for the first Calendar Year Grand Slam since the 60's. Roddick had Federer, Med has to overcome Djokovic and Nadal. Those stats are Roddick's entire career and less than half of Med's.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
I think the person who said Medvedev will be the better hoarder has it best. Barring something crazy, Medvedev should wind up with the better career and achievements, but atleast up to now Roddick is clearly the better player IMO. Although with all the uncertainty around Russia in the world now, hey who knows for sure on the achievements part. Still probably, but not as obvious as before.
 
Roddick for now. He was good on 2 surfaces at least. While med has yet to prove himself off hards. Med will probably surpass him in a year though. I don’t see how he wouldn’t. The field is crap and he’s the “best of the rest”
 

Crazy Finn

Hall of Fame
Their stats are remarkably similar at this point. Who would have thought?

I don't have a real opinion on who is better. I might have rooted for Roddick in 2000 or 2001, but I don't think that it happened after that. I've already rooted for Meddy more than that, and certainly don't all of the time.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
Here we go again.... the Fed brethren soon to join here to tell us how much better prime Roddick was...only peakiest Fed could stop him... etc..

fwiw, I'd pick Roddick.

Fed fans go overboard on Roddick and Hewitt sometimes for sure, and some other players, but I don't think it is unreasonably to those who have seen both to say Roddick is definitely the better player thus far, even though Medvedev will likely be the greater one. I mean Medvedev's level isn't that great, he is even struggling to try and beat a grandpa Nadal, who I am sure we both agree is so far from his true prime level today. He struggles a lot with Zverev and Tstisipas, players who are becoming even bigger dissapointments than Medvedev. The only good thing I can say is he does decently vs an old Djokovic I guess, but even there he gave up in the Australian Open final after maybe a couple games into the 2nd.

They are totally different style of players, despite that both are mainly baseliners, so not a orange and orange comparision, but I think Roddick at his best was better at his game than Medvedev is at his.
 

TearTheRoofOff

G.O.A.T.
So the numbers are close and we just have to pick one, I guess? If Med gets two slams then the traditional bean counting approach will just vault him to the top anyway, even if he gets 7 walkovers.
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
Roddick has the intangibles of having a near-GOAT serve (for a non-Ent), so if forced to pick one I might go with him.

He also has many many more good runs in majors, although Med's catching up quickly.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
No reason to pick Med who has a losing record in slam finals to mid 30's Djokodal. Roddick, for all his flaws, at least has those 2 Wimb finals where he pushed peak/prime Fed hard and even USO 2006 was a good effort from him and certainly better than AO 2021 from Med.
 
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Deleted member 779124

Guest
Roddick, by quite a margin. And I think Roddick is overrated here so LOL if I’m defending him.
Roddick isn’t overrated he is B/W overrated by some people and grossly underestimated by others.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
One interesting thing (if well-known) is that Roddick is one year younger than Fed.

In comparing two totally different players, accomplishments put Roddick ahead (1 more slam final, a slightly greater win percentage overall and at slams, a YE#1), but Med should be able to overtake him.
 

l0s3

Rookie
Medvedev defintely the better Hard court Player. Medvedev has far superior mobility and return game. Would Outlast Roddick on any HC that isnt lightning fast.

Roddick would win on grass easily due to Roddicks FH and serve being alot more effective. Medvedev doesnt move or slide as well on grass.

Clay courts are a crapshoot because both arent good at all on clay but I would give the edge to roddick

AO 6-4 Medvedev
RG 6-4 Roddick
Wimbledon 8-2 Roddick
USO 7-3 Medvedev

Definetely close ability wise but Medvedev is clearly going to end up as the much greater player as I expect atleast 3-4 slams.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Medvedev defintely the better Hard court Player. Medvedev has far superior mobility and return game. Would Outlast Roddick on any HC that isnt lightning fast.

Roddick would win on grass easily due to Roddicks FH and serve being alot more effective. Medvedev doesnt move or slide as well on grass.

Clay courts are a crapshoot because both arent good at all on clay but I would give the edge to roddick

AO 6-4 Medvedev
RG 6-4 Roddick
Wimbledon 8-2 Roddick
USO 7-3 Medvedev

Definetely close ability wise but Medvedev is clearly going to end up as the much greater player as I expect atleast 3-4 slams.

and roddick has far better serve, significantly better FH, better transition game+net game

Points won on HC: Roddick 53.2%, Med: 53.1%
Med loses to Oldal and Oldovic at AO in shameful fashion. But definitely better HC player. right.

Meanwhile definitely worse HC player Roddick beats Nadal on HC in 2 of his best years (08,10) and beats Djoko fresh off his AO win in 08 in Dubai (he beat Nadal/djoko b2b in dubai 08)
also going 5-3 vs djoko when he was a top 10 player.
 

l0s3

Rookie
and roddick has far better serve, significantly better FH, better transition game+net game

Points won on HC: Roddick 53.2%, Med: 53.1%
Med loses to Oldal and Oldovic at AO in shameful fashion. But definitely better HC player. right.

Meanwhile definitely worse HC player Roddick beats Nadal on HC in 2 of his best years (08,10) and beats Djoko fresh off his AO win in 08 in Dubai (he beat Nadal/djoko b2b in dubai 08)
also going 5-3 vs djoko when he was a top 10 player.

Roddick 1st Serve is defenitely better but not "far" better than Medvedev's 1st Serve which is still great. 2nd serve wise yes. Roddick has a far better forehand but Medvedev compensates with much better movement, Backhand and returns. Roddick wouldnt be able to hit through Medvedev on slower courts.

In 2008 Nadal was clearly better on grass/clay than on hard. Djokovic was clearly a better HC player post 2011 than in 2008. I dont think Roddick would have a chance against djokovic in his peak years.

Roddick superior net game benefits him far more on grass courts than on Hard.
 

DIMI_D

Hall of Fame
Med will easily pass roddicks career. As to who’s the better player only have to get your eyes tested to know that..
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Roddick 1st Serve is defenitely better but not "far" better than Medvedev's 1st Serve which is still great. 2nd serve wise yes. Roddick has a far better forehand but Medvedev compensates with much better movement, Backhand and returns. Roddick wouldnt be able to hit through Medvedev on slower courts.

In 2008 Nadal was clearly better on grass/clay than on hard. Djokovic was clearly a better HC player post 2011 than in 2008. I dont think Roddick would have a chance against djokovic in his peak years.

Roddick superior net game benefits him far more on grass courts than on Hard.

Yeah, but Nadal won Canada/Oly in 2008 and made other finals on HC. was pretty good on HC that year.
Also like I mentioned, 2010 (Miami)

2008 dubai was just after Djoko's AO win. so just stop.
Roddick would have his shot vs djoko on HC even from 2011 onwards though Djoko would be favorite.

Roddick kept up with Hewitt on slow HC to a significant extent (AO 05, IW 05). med is a worse returner and defender than Hewitt.
Also med doesn't really do well on slow HC anyways - IW/Miami. He needs medium speed HC atleast.
Roddick OTOH has won 2 Miamis, made a final+3 SFs at IW. Med doesn't even have a semi at either IIRC.

AO 21 was quite speedy. AO 22 atleast medium.

Roddick's better transition/net game helps him to a significant enough extent on HC to finish off the points.
Roddick would've been able to put away Nadal at this year's AO for example, unlike Med who was struggling to finish off points with his FH and at the net. hence resorting to dumb dropshots.
 
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l0s3

Rookie
Yeah, but Nadal won Canada/Oly in 2008 and made other finals on HC. was pretty good on HC that year.
Also like I mentioned, 2010 (Miami)

2008 dubai was just after Djoko's AO win. so just stop.
Roddick would have his shot vs djoko on HC even from 2011 onwards though Djoko would be favorite.

Roddick kept up with Hewitt on slow HC to a significant extent (AO 05, IW 05). med is a worse returner and defender than Hewitt.
Also med doesn't really do well on slow HC anyways - IW/Miami. He needs medium speed HC atleast.
Roddick OTOH has won 2 Miamis, made a final+3 SFs at IW. Med doesn't even have a semi at either IIRC.

AO 21 was quite speedy. AO 22 atleast medium.

Roddick's better transition/net game helps him to a significant enough extent on HC to finish off the points.
Roddick would've been able to put away Nadal at this year's AO for example, unlike Med who was struggling to finish off points with his FH and at the net. hence resorting to dumb dropshots.



In 21 AO conditions Roddick would be slight favourite in 22 the opposite.


I was not arguing that Rafa/djokovic werent good on HC in 2008 they clearly were but were far from their peak.
You argued that Medvedev losing to an Old version of nadal and djokovic is shameful even though their level on HC now is close to the level it was in 2008. Rafas two best years on HC was 2010, 2013 and Djokovic 2011, 2015. Between those years peak Roddick would maybe win 1 game in 10 against djokovic and 2 against nadal.


I agree to an extent yes hewitt was a better mover but Hewitt had nowhere near the serve Medvedev has. Medvedev would have a far easier time holding serve and would win the majority of neutral baseline rallies.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
I was not arguing that Rafa/djokovic werent good on HC in 2008 they clearly were but were far from their peak.

Djokovic definitely was not peak in 2008, agreed. 2008 is one of Nadal's peak years though.

Anyway it is silly when both Nadal and Djokovic, and Nadal by a country mile, were better in 2008 than today when Medvedev is playing them.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
In 21 AO conditions Roddick would be slight favourite in 22 the opposite.


I was not arguing that Rafa/djokovic werent good on HC in 2008 they clearly were but were far from their peak.
You argued that Medvedev losing to an Old version of nadal and djokovic is shameful even though their level on HC now is close to the level it was in 2008. Rafas two best years on HC was 2010, 2013 and Djokovic 2011, 2015. Between those years peak Roddick would maybe win 1 game in 10 against djokovic and 2 against nadal.

2008 was atleast prime-ish Nadal on HC and same for Djoko.
2010 - Roddick went 1-1 vs Nadal on HC - winning Miami in 3 and losing YEC in 3 (was up a set and a break).
So abolutely no way he wins only 2 out of 10.
Ditto for Djoko for whom he's not an easy matchup.

its not just about the conditions in AO 21, 22. Med doesn't have the stamina or the clutch ability of Roddick.
prime Roddick would've finished off Nadal of AO 22 for sure
med didn't even put up a fight vs djoko in AO 21. that's what was shameful.

I agree to an extent yes hewitt was a better mover but Hewitt had nowhere near the serve Medvedev has. Medvedev would have a far easier time holding serve and would win the majority of neutral baseline rallies.

hewitt beats med in fh, return, movement, transition+net game.
maybe med has a little better topspin/flat BH, but hewitt has the clearly better slice. BHs are on similar level in summary.

med's serve being clearly better than hewitt, but still not reliable enough doesn't cut it.
guy got broken 7 times in the last 4 sets by a meh Nadal, FFS.
 
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Deleted member 748597

Guest
So I guess that Roddick is still the greatest 1 Slam champ. Mad Lad could replace him there if he stays the 1 Slam wonder.
 

l0s3

Rookie
Djokovic definitely was not peak in 2008, agreed. 2008 is one of Nadal's peak years though.

Anyway it is silly when both Nadal and Djokovic, and Nadal by a country mile, were better in 2008 than today when Medvedev is playing them.

Nadal in 2008 was better significantly on clay and grass not on hard.

2008 was atleast prime-ish Nadal on HC and same for Djoko.
2010 - Roddick went 1-1 vs Nadal on HC - winning Miami in 3 and losing YEC in 3 (was up a set and a break).
So abolutely no way he wins only 2 out of 10.
Ditto for Djoko for whom he's not an easy matchup.

its not just about the conditions in AO 21, 22. Med doesn't have the stamina or the clutch ability of Roddick.
prime Roddick would've finished off Nadal of AO 22 for sure
med didn't even put up a fight vs djoko in AO 21. that's what was shameful.



hewitt beats med in fh, return, movement, transition+net game.
maybe med has a little better topspin/flat BH, but hewitt has the clearly better slice. BHs are on similar level in summary.

med's serve being clearly better than hewitt, but still not reliable enough doesn't cut it.
guy got broken 7 times in the last 4 sets by a meh Nadal, FFS.

Let me rephrase I think Rafa would be the overwhelming favourite on slow-med hardcourts. 8-2 in favour of rafa in USO is far from far fetched.

8-2 USO
7-3 AO


I think Medvedev backhand is quite clearly better than hewitts. And the difference in movement-return is much smaller than the huge difference in serve.

The fact that medvedev got broken 7 times was more of a testament to rafas returning than Medvedev serving Medvedev 2nd serve did defintely falter after the 2nd set. But rafa should of won the 2nd set after having set point.

Prime Roddick certaintly could of beaten AO 22 nadal but it would of been close and wouldnt be clear cut as you think.
 

martinezownsclay

Hall of Fame
Nadal in 2008 was better significantly on clay and grass not on hard.

I disagree. I see Nadal of 2008 rolling past Medvedev barely breaking a sweat on hard courts. Medvedev really has nothing to hurt 2008 Nadal with on any surface. He couldn't outrally him, he struggles to win more than 50% of the long rallies vs a much slower Nadal with a much poorer baseline game today as we see by all their matches. He definitely can't hit him off the court with first strike tennis. He has nothing to throw his rythym off, he wouldn't be attacking or playing a transitional game either.

And of course he is 1-5 vs Nadal aged 33-35, all matches since Medvedev began coming into his prime. Losing their last 2 very recent matches on hard courts, one from 2 sets to 0 up, and the other being spanked in an easy straight sets loss. His only ever win was in a tough 3 setter in a best 2 out of 3, that Nadal blew the opportunity to finish in 2 sets and should have won really (at the WTF too which is like Nadal's career worst event), although Medvedev also should have won the AO final which makes him look worse that he didn't. So what the heck is he going to do vs 20-26 year old Nadal who has his wheels, is much fitter, and far more ferocity, consistency, and strength off the ground.
 
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